OpenSpace occupies a central role in the "location-smart" application infrastructure. The OpenSpace location server can either be:
- installed at corporate data centers,
- hosted with wireless operators, or
- configured as a web service operated by third-party service providers.
OpenSpace is the cornerstone of "location-smart" application infrastructure.
1. Mobile Terminals
Mobile terminals are located either by GPS, AGPS, or by Position Determining Equipment (PDE) that measures raw positioning data from within the wireless network infrastructure using a variety of location technologies such as TDOA, E-OTD, and Cell-ID. The PDEs are connected to the Mobile Positioning Center via host systems where locations of mobile terminals are calculated in real time.
2. Mobile Positioning Center
The Mobile Positioning Center (MPC) is a gateway that enables the location server to access location data in a simple way, independent of the underlying location technology. The MPC requests mobile positioning information from the PDEs, and forwards it to the location server. Examples of MPCs include RedKnee ELS, Alcatel iMLS, Ericsson MPS, Lucent Flexent™ GMLC, and Nokia mPosition Altruse GMLC.
3. Location Server
The OpenSpace location server derives real-time latitude and longitude data from the MPC and provides "location-smart" capabilities to the application server through standard SOAP and XML protocols. OpenSpace draws upon multiple location content and geographic data sources in order to build a knowledge base that can respond to real-time location queries.
4. Application Server
The application server contains modular software objects called EJBs that encapsulate the location dynamics of the application. All program-level interactions with OpenSpace for geo-spatial processing and dynamic topological reasoning are coordinated by the application server.
5. Web Browsers
OpenSpace renders maps, aerial images and other location information on Web browsers and mobile terminals using a combination of standard HTML, WML, XML, JavaScript, applets, and various image display formats. This makes location services easily accessible from any supported client devices, at any time and from anywhere.
